Graduation Requirements

German (GER)

Academic Catalog: 2014–2015

We view culture in the broad, sociological sense of the word, not simply in the narrow sense of literature and the fine arts, and attempt, at all levels, to develop in our students an understanding of as many aspects of the German culture and civilization as possible in conjunction with exercising comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing.

German Courses

101, 102 Beginning German I, II (1 course, 1 course) A sequential two-semester program focusing on the basic grammatical forms and patterns of German. Students will learn to understand, speak, read and write German at a beginner’s level and gain an awareness of the culture of German speaking countries. Pre-requisites: GER-101: no previous experience, placement at GER-101 level or instructor’s permission. GER-102: GER-101 or instructor’s permission. Fall semester/ Spring semester.

201, 202 Intermediate German I, II (1 course, 1 course) A sequential two-semester program designed to help students reach an intermediate level of proficiency by increasing their vocabulary, completing the foundation structures and adding to their knowledge of German-speaking cultures. GER-201 provides a completion of basic grammatical structures, and an emphasis on more creative aspects of language use to strengthen composition and conversation skills. GER-202 is for students who want to further develop their speaking as well as their oral and reading comprehension skills, increase proficiency in extended narration and dialogue, and gain a better understanding of German-speaking cultures. Prerequisite: GER-201: GER-102, placement at GER-201 level or instructor’s permission. GER-202: GER-201 or instructor’s permission. Fall semester/Spring semester.

251 Explorations in German Culture: Impressions and Expression (1 course) This upper-intermediate level course is designed to increase competency in all four communication skills: listening and reading comprehension, speaking, and writing. Working with authentic texts, including poetry, short stories and essays, as well as excerpts from German television and/or film, students improve their abilities in discussing and writing about a variety of topics, and deepen both their language skills and cultural competence. In addition, students broaden their vocabulary base and strengthen grammatical structures within the context of classical and current literature and contemporary cultural and social issues, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, immigration, and German cultural identity. Students engage in daily discussions, produce frequent short writing assignments and participate in planned international exchanges as available online. Prerequisite: GER-202 or instructor’s permission. Fall semester.